Grinding India sneak ahead

When Rahul Dravid was asked if he identified with the rockstar image of the Indian team that the New Zealand...

When Rahul Dravid was asked if he identified with the rockstar image of the Indian team that the New Zealand marketing men had promoted through banners and giant billboards,he broke into a smile. Perhaps they had the one-day team in mind when they launched the campaign, he joked.

Perhaps they did since India on Thursday traded the loud get-up of guitar smashing,head-banging hell-raisers,which they had fashioned over the past month,for a more formal,tranquil avatar. The first full day of the Indian batsmen in flannels,contrary to their past record in New Zealand,was an exhibition of the games classical form. The score of 278/4 can be interpreted in several ways but the visitors made more than one point. They proved they werent just a bunch of sloggers who beat the cricket ball to a pulp but men with refined skill and quick adaptability. They showed that Test cricket wasnt always about run making but also about a batsman gluing bat to pad,leaning forward,and scrutinising the final moments of a dead ball. They established that leaving the ball alone was an important skill,especially in these parts.

India finished their first full session on 108/1,as compared with New Zealands disastrous lunch-time score of 61/6 on the opening day,and hidden behind these contrasting scores were deliveries that were allowed to sail into the wicketkeepers gloves. While the New Zealand batsmen did not play at 25 balls in the first 25 overs they faced,the Indians left 51 alone.

At a venue where bowlers throw dangling baits in the morning,coaches constantly remind batsmen of the no fishing warning valid for the first session. On Wednesday,the Kiwis had not paid attention and edges flew thick and fast. But on Thursday,things were different as Gautam Gambhir 72 off 135 balls and Dravid 66 from 138 balls stayed away from trouble. Of the 62 balls Dravid played before lunch,he shouldered arms to 24 deliveries,while the corresponding figures for Gambhir were 21 well-lefts from 86 balls faced.

Former opener Mark Richardson,who notched up the highest score of 89 during the last India-New Zealand series played on seaming tracks,talked about the importance of the uninterrupted dot ball. Leaving the ball is important. It doesnt mean that you leave everything,because if the ball is seaming you dont want it to come back in and knock back your off stump. You should know what youre doing, he said.

In the second session,Gambhir and Dravid were less circumspect. Gambhir in rhythm isnt a rare sight these days but Dravid,at the other end,was back at his best after a while. Though he had hit a century in the last Test he played,Thursdays Dravid was closer to the batsman of old cutting ferociously past gully and flicking off the pads past the square leg umpire.

Later in the day,Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman followed the same routine. They started by being careful against balls outside the off stump but then showcased their range of strokes,caressing the ball between the gaps in the field. Runs were not raining but there were little,valuable gems to cherished. It was a day of patience,on which a few classic strokes surfaced periodically between dot balls.

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Somehow,it even seemed that Virender Sehwags early departure went with the mood of the day. The pop to classical switch may not have been so stark if the best of the guitar smashing,head banging hell-raisers had been around.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More